Committed to Glorifying God

Standards for how Christian athletes are to compete

Hey Rival –

Good athletes know what it takes to compete at a high level. It takes things like commitment, intensity, grit, and determination. They know that winning isn’t easy and that competition requires a different kind of strength. So where does that strength come from?

For the Christian athlete, strength doesn’t come from themselves; it comes from God. We know that the Holy Spirit lives in us, and that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us.

Christian athletes compete with unwavering purpose. In their pursuit of excellence, they seek to honor God. They transform their intensity into an act of worship. From the first whistle to the final handshake, every play and every moment is an act of worship. No matter the score, Christian athletes give their best. They are performing for the only audience that truly matters—God.

The Christian athlete doesn’t just wear a uniform; they carry a calling. With that calling, they compete with a different set of standards. They aren’t seeking personal glory or fame. Instead, they are giving their best because they want to honor the God who made them.

Application Questions:

• When you reach the end of what you have to give (during a tough workout or a match against your rival), how can you remind yourself that you operate in God’s strength, not your own?
• What is one way you can show your opponent that you are competing to bring glory to God’s name, not your own?

Prayer:

"God, we thank You that through Your Holy Spirit, we have access to the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. Help us to lean on Your strength rather than our own when things are difficult. May our opponents be able to see Christ in us by the way we compete for Your glory. Amen."